A Couple of Trials (ZeLink)

Chapter 91: The Divine Parting

One platform after another, Link and Zelda—with their hands still clasped together—stepped up the large, floating staircase, walking carefully to ensure they wouldn't fall into the depths of the void beneath them. The higher they went, the brighter the lights around the curved walls became. Stars twinkled above the swirling patterns that created the artistic image of their old kingdom. Beneath the artistic rendering of Hyrule's surface, it looked as though another world had been painted—one neither of them recognized. Regardless, they continued their journey upward.

With each step, the floating steps narrowed, creating a more average-sized, but steeper staircase. Link pulled Zelda closer to him, holding her waist to ensure her safety. Finally, after what felt like an endless amount of steadily diminishing steps, they arrived at the foot of the floating structure, where a large, luminous, blue wall greeted them.

It was similar to all the other blue walls Link had encountered within the Sheikah shrines in the past, yet this one was slightly different. Whereas the blue energy walls he'd previously encountered had the glowing insignia of the Sheikah, this one depicted the bird insignia of the goddess. Though the wall was bright, the interior was still visible. Leaning forward, Link furrowed his brow and peered through the wall.

Inside the structure were seven tall pillars, upon which there appeared to be decomposing bodies, each wearing a hat and long, flowing, white hair, and each resting in a unique pose.

"Ancient Sheikah monks?" Link asked. "I thought there weren't any more of them... The Master Sword said the Sheikah didn't have anything to do with this trial."

"There are seven of them," Zelda said, peering through the wall herself.

"Yeah, that's weird," Link said curiously. "Usually there's only one—"

"No, you don't understand," Zelda said, tugging at his sleeve. "Seven isn't a random number. In all my studies regarding the Sheikah technology—and even Hyrule's history—there are usually seven sages, each having a part to play alongside the Master Sword—whether it be the sword's creation, or guiding the hero to his success. Even during preparation for the Calamity, we had a set of sages—seven of them—and they were Sheikah; however, they were always completely robed."

"You think these are the same sages?" Link asked.

"I wouldn't be surprised," Zelda said. "They could be the same seven sages from ten thousand years ago, and remained the sages right up until our era. It was always strange how they would appear and then vanish without a trace in the castle, always at the most convenient and inconvenient of times."

"These guys love sticking around, don't they?" Link mumbled before leaning in to peer inside the blue walls again.

Inspecting the pillars again, he realized they were surrounding a gigantic pedestal, with its own little staircase to climb it. Squinting, he focused on the pedestal. Protruding from the center was the Master Sword.

"It's there," Link said, pulling away from the blue wall. "Are you ready?"

"I feel as though I should be asking you that," Zelda giggled. "While I accepted being here, this is still your moment, Link. Are you ready?"

With a deep breath, Link nodded. He began to raise his hand, but before his fingertips could touch the glowing wall, he paused and looked at Zelda. Realizing what he wanted, she giggled again before raising her hand as well, leveling it with his. Together, they pressed their fingertips against the wall. Upon their touch, the wall rippled and shattered.

Thin, pin-like pieces of light spun and floated in the air around them. The two Hylians marveled at the sight of the light surrounding them, illuminating their skin. Though they had seen it all before, the shattering beauty never got old. Once the light vanished, Link stepped onto the platform, then helped Zelda up. The moment she stood next to him, still holding his hand, a deep, echoing voice began to speak, a type of echo Link hadn't heard since his trial with the ancient monk Maz Koshia.